United Arab Emirates
This proposal presents a sustainable residential design approach for the UAE, integrating proven passive cooling techniques with modern construction methods to create adaptable, energy-efficient housing. It addresses extreme heat, drought, and construction waste through architectural and urban solutions informed by traditional Arabic design principles. Elements like wind towers, shaded courtyards, and thermal mass are reinterpreted using modern materials and prefabrication. The architectural language prioritizes performance over ornamentation, combining cultural references with functionality.
At the building scale, a hybrid system uses prefabricated wall panels made from stabilized earth blocks with recycled content, offering structural integrity and insulation while minimizing waste and enabling fast assembly. Passive cooling strategies are central to the environmental approach: wind towers and subterranean qunats maintain indoor comfort without mechanical systems for much of the year. Courtyards are designed to maximize shade, support cross-ventilation, and incorporate water features for evaporative cooling without excessive humidity.
Residential units are based on a 450m² module that can adapt from single-family homes to multiple units without structural changes. Services and access points are coordinated to allow flexibility in occupancy while preserving privacy and function.
At the urban scale, the layout draws from traditional Arabic towns, featuring narrow, shaded pedestrian alleys and courtyards that promote natural ventilation and social interaction. Blue-green corridors—landscaped waterways inspired by ancient aflaj systems—reduce urban heat, manage stormwater, and provide district-wide passive cooling, lowering public space temperatures by 4–6°C. A decentralized smart grid manages renewable energy and water reuse, enhancing resilience.
By combining prefabrication, passive design, and ecological urbanism, this model offers a scalable, replicable solution for arid climates, meeting and exceeding Estidama Pearl 2 standards without relying on unproven technologies. Rooted in practical construction and user needs, it provides a viable path for sustainable urban development in the UAE and similar regions.
Architects: IAPA Pty. Ltd.
Design Team: Paul Peng, Xing Zhang, Shenmei Wu, and Ruggero Casa
Client: Private
Photographs: Courtesy of the Architects
